Wednesday, May 17, 2017

"Extravagant love always finds a way to multiply itself." Wyld Life Parade 2017

Sunshine. Good friends. Coffee in my hand. Witnessing the news being filmed. Anticipation of summer.

Wyld Life 2017 celebrated with a grand finale tonight (even though WL camp is in a couple weeks, the school schedule is over). Our leadership team (adults, HS leaders and new Sophomores) gathered in the basement to go over the lesson and then to make toasts with cake celebrating the last year. There is so much to be thankful for.

When we got together into small groups I had a surreal moment of getting to sit in a circle with all of these girls at the same time. These Seniors, Sophomores, 8th graders and Cass are the ones I've taken to camp, sat in bible studies with, and been friends with for years. They have each made such an impact on my life and they mean more to me than they know.

"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-- it is by grace you have been saved." Eph 2:4"Immense in mercy and with incredible love, he embraced us... Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world, and the next, to shower grace and kindness upon us in Jesus Christ... He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we better be doing." Eph 2:5-10

For the 2nd time, we celebrated the end of an incredible year of Wyld Life with a Parade inspired by Bob Goff. His neighborhood has had a parade on New Year's Day for more than 20 years. The idea is that everyone is in the parade, no one has to sit on the sidelines watching. The most unlikely people are chosen to be the grand marshal of the parade each year and everyone gets to share in the fun.

I've been part of HSE Wyld Life for five years now, and I have the unique perspective of getting to see how we've grown and changed and loved well along the way. I'm so proud to be part of this group. Tonight our parade included 35 Junior High kids, 6 adults, 24 HS leaders, 3 elementary kids and 2 dogs-- we had a party.

We took off from the Halkyard's house with balloons in hand, signs lifted up high, bikes, blades, scooters and hover boards rolling. We passed out candy along the way and gave our balloons away to strangers.

"We just want to give love away like we're made of the stuff."

"Jesus didn't want us just to be believers; He invited us to be participants."

"If our lives are filled with purpose we won't be distracted looking for everyone's approval."

About Me

I believe in a life of faith and celebration filled with the people I love. One of my campers once told me, "My favorite times of the year are when our lives overlap." I want to live a life where I purposefully overlap with the people I care about and I prioritize relationships. I have been blessed to become friends with some incredible people.